(AP Photo)

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The defending champion Blackhawks handily defeated the Flyers at home on December 11th 7-2 at the United Center, and now Philadelphia is seeking revenge on home ice. Philadelphia squares off against Jonathan Toews and Chicago tonight at 7:30 PM/EST on CSN Philly/NBCSN. In the 7-2 victory vs. Philadelphia earlier this season, seven different Blackhawks scored. Patrick Sharp had a goal and two assists against his former team, while Marian Hossa recorded three assists.

In the two team’s (only) previous match-up this season, Chicago not only won but scored an impressive five goals in the second period, taking a commanding 5-2 lead heading into the third period, one of which they tacked on an additional two goals on their way to victory. Philadelphia was struggling mightily at that time, roughly three months ago, at 13-15-3 (while Chicago at the time, only having one greater loss than amount of overtime losses, was fantastic, and still is, at 23-6-5)- although the former was still in contention at the time due to the Western Conference’s superiority in comparison to the East this season.

Fast-forward a few months later and Philadelphia is doing much better under now-interim (but perceived to be the full-time coach heading forward) head coach (and former Philadelphia enforcer) Craig Berube at 35-25-7. The Fly-Guys are 22-10-4 since the aforementioned 7-2 blowout loss to Chicago in mid-December. They come in tonight’s game with Chicago having won two straight, on a back-to-back game basis no less, both victories coming against rival Pittsburgh from Saturday to Sunday of last week. Since losing a close 2-1 game to New Jersey a week ago today, Philadelphia — starting four days later — shutout the Pens 4-0 at the Wells Fargo Center, before sweeping the home-and-home with a close 4-3 victory on Sunday at Pittsburgh.

The Broad Street Bullies come into tonight’s match-up having gone 3-1-1 in their last five, averaging over 3.5 goals and almost 33.5 shots/game in that time span. They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, while Chicago is 5-5.

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Tags: chi, Chicago Blackhawks, Claude Giroux, corey crawford, Hockey, jonathan toews, NHL, patrick kane, phi, Philadelphia Flyers, pre-game, prediction, preview, steve mason